Cordova Parks & Trails
The trails around Cordova serve up tons of variety. Most are located in the Chugach National Forest and are very well maintained by the Forest Service. In fact, you’ll find some 40 miles of maintained, road-accessible trails (and well over 100 miles of trail in total) that take you through everything from muskeg meadow to alpine ridges above treeline, often in just a few miles.
The climate within the forest creates a landscape that’s especially spectacular. While other parts of the Chugach get around 60 inches of rain each year, Cordova can see as much as 180 inches, which brings a lush, mossy green to the trees. Of course, all that rain also makes for a marsh-like environment with wet ground. Fortunately, many miles of these well-maintained trails are laid with planks, both to protect the environment and help you walk without sinking in.
Each year, the trails are typically clear of snow by May; just be aware that depending on the winter, some of the trails with open slopes may still have some snow until early June.
With such a wide variety of trails it can be hard to know which to hike if you have limited time in town. Here are some ideas to get you started. Or, jump to list of trails.
Trail Highlights
Easy: Pipeline Lakes and McKinley Trail Loop. This 4- to 5-mile round-trip hike is suitable for most anyone. Start from either of the two trailheads along the Copper River Highway (they’re close together, making for an easy walk to your car when you’re finished). Pipeline Lakes takes you through dense forest that opens up to meadows and fantastic mountain views. If you’re interested in some trout fishing, take the short spur trails, which lead to several small lakes filled with them. Along the way, you’ll intersect with the McKinley Lake Trail, which takes you through old-growth canopy of Sitka and hemlock spruce.
Moderate/Challenging: Heney Ridge Trail. This 6.1-mile trail offers great views, though it does require some effort to get to the top. It starts out following Hartney Bay stream on a gravel walkway; you’ll soon come to a beautiful bridge over a creek that in mid-July and August is full of chum spawning salmon. Turn around here if you don’t feel up to the more challenging part of the climb.
But continue on and you’ll pass through beautiful forest and muskeg meadows; be sure to look back over your shoulder for terrific views of Hartney Bay and Prince William Sound. The last mile gets pretty steep, but the payoff is in the views of Cordova, Nelson Bay, the Sound and some of the main islands.
Best View: Alice Smith Intertie. Any of the trails that take you into the alpine will offer great views. But 6.6-mile Alice Smith Intertie features the area’s most jaw-dropping sights. It takes about 5 hours each way, via either the Power Creek or Crater Lake trails (or you can hike the ridge from end-to-end, 11 miles, if you arrange for a shuttle vehicle at one end). Once you reach the ridge, you’ll find unforgettable views of Prince William Sound, Eyak Lake, and the Copper River Delta. Just be aware that the trail is prone to dense fog, so it’s wise to come prepared to spend the night (there’s a free shelter halfway).
Winter:The easy Pipeline Lakes and McKinley Loop we mention above is also a fantastic winter walk. Another is the Saddlebag Glacier Trail. This 6.1-mile round-trip is flat, making it popular for both snowshoeing and fat-tire biking. And the payoff is a small, pretty lake at the foot of a spectacular glacier. Locals will pack their ice skates in case the lake is frozen.. A similar experience is available on the shorter Sheridan Lake Trail, where you only have to walk about a mile to get to the lake. Don your skates and glide around icebergs frozen into the ice. Best conditions for skating are generally late November through early January, before there’s much snow accumulation.
Picnicking
If you’re not necessarily interested in a hike, but want to enjoy the outdoors and some potential wildlife viewing, there are a few great picnic and recreation areas just beyond town along the Copper River Highway.
Alaganik Slough Recreation Area has a boardwalk with an observation deck, plus a blind to spot wildlife without disturbing any critters. Play in the water or fish for Coho. Come in spring and you’ll also find hooligan (or candlefish), who arrive in massive numbers. And the seals, sea lions, and birds who flock here for the feast create a cacaphony of noise. You’ll find four separate sites with picnic tables and fire rings; spend a day or set up and camp for a week.
Both 18-Mile and One Eye Pond each have day-use picnic areas; walk the trail around the pond and look for the Coho salmon that come to spawn.
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Parks & Trails
This 4.1‑mile trail starts through forÂest and muskeg meadÂows. You’ll cross a beauÂtiÂful bridge over a creek that in mid-July and August is full of spawnÂing chum salmon Then once you’re at the top take in views of CorÂdoÂva, NelÂson Bay, and Prince William Sound.
This 1.5‑mile hike is an easy stroll down to the lake that offers a great payÂoff in the form of a gorÂgeous glacÂiÂer. If you’re here in winÂter and the conÂdiÂtions are right, it’s a great spot for wilderÂness ice skatÂing, fat bikÂing, or cross-counÂtry skiing!
6.2 round-trip easy hike through the Chugach NationÂal ForÂest to a glacial lake. PopÂuÂlar in winÂter for fat bikÂing and ice skatÂing. In sumÂmer, hikÂing and paddleboarding.
This trail folÂlows PowÂer Creek then leads it’s hikÂers up mulÂtiÂple switchÂbacks. MidÂway, the CorÂdoÂva ElecÂtric HydropowÂer Dam Can be seen from the trail. The last half passÂes by many beaver ponds and hangÂing glaciers.
This trail has impresÂsive views of the Chugach MounÂtains. Short spur trails offer access to five small lakes that are excelÂlent for cutÂthroat fishing.
This ridge route has amazÂing views of Prince William Sound, Eyak Lake, and the CopÂper RivÂer Delta. About halfway down the trail, there is small shelÂter availÂable for day use or overnight campÂing. It is availÂable on a first-come first-serve basis.
The 3.3‑mile long trail is mostÂly boardÂwalk over muskeg. This is an excelÂlent spot to bird-watch, look for waterÂfowl feedÂing on Eyak Lake. TrumÂpeter swans freÂquent this lake. Most fly south for the winÂter howÂevÂer, up to 100 swans will winÂter here in this ice-free lake.
DisÂcovÂer year-round recreÂation above CorÂdoÂva on this gorÂgeous mounÂtain. In winÂter, you can lose yourÂself among the puffy snowÂdrifts and powÂder-covÂered trees as you schuss down the slopes. And in the sumÂmer, you’ll find berry pickÂing, hikÂing, and festivals.
This is a steep climb that ends where Crater Lake sits. The first half climbs over rocky secÂtions with numerÂous switchÂbacks, with mudÂdy areas and wood bridges. The secÂond half conÂtinÂues to climb, but at a much nicer grade. At mile 1.2 there is an interÂtie to Ski Hill trail and at the lake there is the option to hike the Alice Smith InterÂtie. The entire loop from Crater Lake to PowÂer Creek TrailÂhead is 12 miles. Along this trail there is good… ...more
This is an easy .8‑mile boardÂwalk trail with lots of stairs. The boardÂwalk leads to overÂlook of the CopÂper RivÂer Delta with many signs. Be sure to bring your camÂera, this is a great place to see moose and bear.
LocatÂed at Mile 17 of the CopÂper RivÂer HighÂway. An accesÂsiÂble boardÂwalk leads visÂiÂtors to stunÂning views of both the expanÂsive wetÂlands of the CopÂper RivÂer Delta and the surÂroundÂing mounÂtains. A wide variÂety of wetÂland aniÂmals includÂing trumÂpeter swans, moose, brown bear, and shoreÂbirds can be seen in the area, espeÂcialÂly durÂing the spring and fall. The first half of this trail is paved with geoblock, so that it does not have a negative… ...more
This very active glacÂiÂer forms a wall along the fabled CopÂper RivÂer near a hisÂtoric railÂroad route that once serÂviced the world’s largest copÂper mine. NOTE: A bridge at Mile 36 of the CopÂper RivÂer HighÂway is curÂrentÂly (2020) impassÂable, with repairs not expectÂed for sevÂerÂal years. Child’s GlacÂiÂer is not curÂrentÂly accesÂsiÂble by road. ConÂtact CorÂdoÂva Ranger DisÂtrict for curÂrent venders proÂvidÂing transÂportaÂtion options to the far side. ...more
An easy trail, about 0.6 miles long, that will take about 1 hour to hike and leads you to excelÂlent views of Child’s GlacÂiÂer. ImporÂtant note: While the ForÂest SerÂvice still mainÂtains it, you can’t get here by car, as the CopÂper RivÂer highÂway is washed out at Mile 36. You can only access the trail by hirÂing a boat or a plane from town.
This is a lightÂly slopÂing trail that parÂalÂlels the Scott ValÂley and passÂes the shores of large and small lakes. The trail passÂes through an area that was preÂviÂousÂly logged. It is not a well-mainÂtained trail.
This is an easy 2.4‑mile hike with excelÂlent fishÂing for sockÂeye, DolÂly VarÂden and cutÂthroat. You’ll find access to McKinÂley Trail and McKinÂley Lake pubÂlic use cabÂins. It is a well-mainÂtained trail that has sevÂerÂal bridges for easy stream crossÂings and interÂpreÂtive signs to explain the trail’s history.
This ski trail weaves through muskeg and forÂest and gradÂuÂalÂly gains eleÂvaÂtion until it ends. The trail leads to a high muskeg that overÂlooks the CopÂper RivÂer Delta, Heney Range and the Gulf of AlasÂka. This trail is very wet durÂing all seaÂsons excludÂing winÂter and is not a hikÂing trail.
The first mile and a half of this trail leads up over rocky slopes that offer a great view of Eyak Lake and the Orca Inlet. At this point the trail splits in two and the hikÂer has a choice of going around the south end of Mt. Eyak or climbÂing straight up to the top.
The hike begins through the forÂest before it begins to climb. There are rock cairns to help guide you along the way. From the top, you’ll have impresÂsive views of the SheriÂdan and SherÂman glaciers.